Explanation
One of the most prominent individuals in the history of Columbus baseball and a former Franklin County Commissioner, Harold M. Cooper got his start in 1935 as the clubhouse boy for the Columbus Red Birds. In 1942, he left the Red Birds to serve in the armed forces, but returned to baseball, and in 1950, while with the Hutchinson Elks, he was named the Minor League Executive of the Year. In 1955 he returned to Columbus baseball as General Manager of the Ottawa A's who were renamed the Columbus Jets. From 1955 until 1968 he was General Manager of the Jets. When the Jets encountered stadium problems after the 1970 season, they moved to Charlston, West Virginia, where they became the Charleston Charlies. In the mid 1970's, while a Franklin County Commissioner, Mr. Cooper spearheaded the County's effort to purchase and renovate the former Jet Stadium. In 1977, with the availability of Cooper Stadium, the former Jets were lured back to Columbus bringing baseball back to Columbus after a 7-year absence. In 1978 Mr. Cooper was elected president of the International League and served in that capacity for 12 years. He was also commissioner of theTriple-A Alliance in 1988 and 1989.
In 2005 the Franklin County Commissioners purchased land and announced plans to move the Columbus Clippers baseball team into a new stadium within that area of the City known as the Arena District. The new stadium, currently under construction, is bounded by Neil Avenue on the east, Nationwide Boulevard on the south, Hanover Street on the west, and Brodbelt Lane on the north. The Columbus Clippers will move to their new home, Huntington Park, for the start of the 2009 season. The Public Service Department, Transportation Division, recently received a request from the Franklin County Commissioners, Mary Jo Kilroy, President, Paula Brooks, and Marilyn Brown, along with the Mayor's Office asking that the name of Brodbelt Lane from Neil Avenue west to its western terminus ...
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